Christmas

First off, I want to wish everyone who reads this blog a Merry Christmas, even if it is a bit late.


Second, time to share the season from our home.
We decorated some melted snowmen cookies.We also made candy houses with some friends.We have a bigger family now... NO, Jennifer did not have another child. We have an exchange student living with us. I'm sure she will kill me if she sees the picture I posted of her.
And for Christmas we also enjoyed the company of Great Grandma Nelson (Jennifer's Grandmother). It was fun having her visit us for the holidays.
And last, and best, Jennifer sure knows how to make me happy. Look all my puzzles!
And if you are wondering, yes, they have all been messed up and then fixed.

Hawaii

For those of you who didn't know, I had a work trip to Hawaii for a week. Jennifer didn't want left out of the fun, so she decided to meet me over there. Big thanks to good friends and my youngest sister for being willing to watch the kids for us.

Jennifer had to explore much of the Island of Oahu herself, seeing I was working approx. 14 hour days. She managed to see some interesting things and saw a large part of the island.

We had to go to the beach, this one happens to be Hanauma Bay. The water was a little chilly, but so clear.

From here was a decent view of a hike I did before Jennifer arrived, Koko Head Crater. It is a 1200+ foot stair-master on steroids.

Of course we had to make a trip to the temple.The day I left Jennifer went on a snorkeling trip and was able to swim with sea turtles and dolphins. They were not allowed in the water until after a mother whale and her new baby left.

She also saw the Black Pearl, from Pirates of the Caribbean.

Better late than never:

Brody turned 8 and was baptized

Kristina (Jennifer's sister) was married in northern Idaho

Jennifer (and my Dad) went on the 4th year hike with the young women, only a month after she went to the hospital via ambulance for her back going out.


Halloween costumes this year


Getting soaked after passing my final check ride


Brody's Fictionary project at school...our favorite word:

Krohner - to accidentally make a turd in your pants

How Mia takes care of laundry when it is her week

Us after a long weekend, both being lazy (not me) and working (me)


Summer hike

Back to school (yeah Jennifer!)

Music

I heard this song today and had to share. I think it is my new favorite.

Like My Dog

Working away

Here are some pictures I've taken at work recently. The sunset happened when we were about 200 miles off the coast up here in the northwest.

One morning we were waiting for the fog to burn off so we could go fly. I took it from the cockpit of our plane, looking at another parked about 200 feet away.

Veterans Day

Veterans Day gifts from the kids. Brody and Mia both made me cards. Mia also wrote me this poem. It wasn't until now I realized while I was growing up we never did anything special for my dad, who is a veteran. So to all those veterans out there, Thank You.

Brody's Card:
Front

Center

Back


Mia's Poem:

Septic-sational

I noticed some standing "water" on the top of our septic tank. After a little investigating I found out the septic tank was filled to the top. Actually, it was filled over the top. I started following the lines to find out where the problem was originating from, and when following the line from the tank to the distribution box (which leads to the drain field) sewage started bubbling up from the ground. I hurriedly dug a hole big enough to keep the water from draining into my neighbors yard. When the immediate crisis was adverted I started digging from the drain field lines back towards the D-box. I reached a spot where the line ended, and digging a little further the ground erupted again with bubbling sewage. This time, however, it was followed by a whirlpool of sewage entering the drain field lines. What had happened was the D-box had deteriorated and collapsed in on itself, blocking the supply line (from the tank) from entering the two drain field lines. Thankfully, with assistance from a septic company, a new D-box was installed and the fear of a new septic system was put to rest.